African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has said Obafemi Hamzat’s alleged oath of allegiance to the United States is one of the constitutional grounds for disqualifying a governorship aspirant.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Rhodes-Vivour argued that the Nigerian Constitution prevents anyone who owes allegiance to another country from serving as president or governor, stressing that a declaration of allegiance to another country is listed among the grounds for disqualification from holding the office.
“I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the fact that a human being who swears an oath of allegiance to another entity, another country, can then be the chief security officer of another country.”
Rhodes-Vivour said there is a distinction between holding dual citizenship and voluntarily swearing an oath of allegiance to another country.
“There is a difference between having dual citizenship and voluntarily swearing an oath of allegiance to another country.”
He said Nigerians who acquire foreign citizenship by birth are permitted to hold dual citizenship, arguing that such individuals had no choice in acquiring the citizenship.
“So a child that is born in England today or America that has a dual citizenship, had no say in that matter, so does not have to swear an oath of allegiance.”
Rhodes-Vivour said an oath of allegiance involves a commitment to another country and could include serving its interests in different capacities.
“It is saying that you are committed to this country at any point in time whether to serve in the military or serve in any form that promotes their interest.”
He said the issue was not the passport held by a politician but the oath of allegiance they may have taken.
“The core of this is not the passport you carry. It is your oath of allegiance.”
Rhodes-Vivour said he had previously pursued the matter through the courts up to the Supreme Court but would not take further legal action against Hamzat.
“I pursued it all the way to Supreme Court. I’m not going to court about this.”
He also said Hamzat had acknowledged in his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) documents that he had sworn an oath of allegiance to another country.
“Fortunately I give the man. He’s an honourable man. He did not lie. In his INEC documents, he admitted he has sworn a note of allegiance.”
Rhodes-Vivour said his position was based on the principles surrounding allegiance and the responsibilities attached to holding public office.
“So it’s based on principles.”
Goodness Anunobi
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